Thursday, March 29, 2012

Somewhere in the recesses of my mind there lives a memory of some program, perhaps on TV or radio about a Lion whose name is Tearalong...a play on words, of course. And today as I was praying for a more 'abiding' faith that produces fruit...rather than expecting fruit just by pressing in and pressing forward I was reminded of the dotted lion.

In meditating on the 'abiding' quality I saw myself connected to God, to Jesus, to the Holy Spirit by a dotted line rather than a thick and full connection line. I wax and wane in my faithfulness to prayer and being in the word. I'm ashamed to admit this, but it is the truth. And somehow I think I'm not that extraordinary in this pattern. I think we are all challenged in our walk by a waxing and waning.

So, today I imagine myself riding that Lion, that Dotted Lion, wanting more and realizing that to have more, to be more annointed, I must get off the Dotted Lion and fill in the blanks...again, and over and over. I want to ride the Lion, the complete and full Lion, that connects me fully to God. I want to fill in the blank as I go rather than looking back to see a dotted line. I want that full, filled in life that relies on prayer and the Word every day, all the time. No more ---------, but this instead____________________.

So, I'm back at it, in the Word, in a study, and in prayer that isn't merely popcorn prayer, thrown up to a God Who loves popcorn as much as I do, but Who prefers a full meal deal from me. May God bless you richly this day!

Sunday, March 11, 2012

If I knew how to do it I'd put a picture of Rosie the Riveter on here to show my muscle and my 'can do' attitude.

I testified that on January 1st I felt God telling me that He was going to accomplish something BIG with/in me in the first 3 months of the new year.

Since January 1st I've not only been called to The Philippines, but I've been on the treadmill at least 6 days a week, going from 20 minutes the first month, and up to 30 minutes now. I can burn 256 calories at a pop too.

I raise my hands in praise to God Who is accomplishing this with/in me when I waver.

No one could have told me that I'd love the treadmill, or running for two minutes some mornings on it. No one could have told me that I'd look forward to the gruesome task of doing this in the O'Dark-Thirty hours of the morning.

I began on January 1 at 142 pounds, down some from when I'd first begun after Christmas doing Weight Watchers from home with all the old books and slide rule.

On February 5, a Sunday morning, I weighed in at 135, my first goal.

And it has taken 5 weeks to accomplish the next 1 pound loss!

Never, when getting on the scale, did I forsake the program of diet and exercise.

Only God could have accomplished this in me.

I admit, I was disappointed, and I whined about it to my beloved sister.

I complained to my husband too.

He assured me I was building muscle...which weighs more than fat.

I pressed on...only through the Strength that come from the LORD Himself.

Today, the scale showed the number 134...that one more pound!

I'm not in this for numbers. I'm in this for my health.

I'm so small...really I am!

4 feet 10.5 inches

It isn't big enough to carry the weight I've been carrying. There are three weeks left of the promise I felt from the LORD to do something BIG in/with me in the first 3 months of the year.

I've had help too.

I text my friend Margaret every morning when I finish on the treadmill.

I text my daughter with my 'points' or pounds.It will be nice to be in a very hot climate carry less weight and wearing loose-fitting clothes.

I wonder what the Creator will do with me next!

I'm ready for the adventure whatever it is because He sustains me, He fulfills me.